ETOBICOKE, Ontario - It's certainly unusual in the first weekend in September to see a 2-year-old filly making her 10th start, let alone competing in her fourth different country.

But that's the story of America America, a Kentucky-bred trained by Frank Mourier who is shipping into Woodbine from Saratoga for Saturday's Natalma Stakes.

America America began her career at Gulfstream in April, winning first crack out over three furlongs, then finishing second in the Mockingbird Stakes at the same distance.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Silver Bird, Saree, and Pink Champagne, who have each won her only start, will square off in Saturday's $177,000 Natalma Stakes, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Lynn Simon came close to sweeping both ends of the stakes doubleheader here Labor Day.

Simon saddled favorite Soon to Be Single, who won the Miss Moneypenny, then sent out 14-1 longshot Brother Pat, who finished second by a neck in the Puss N Boots.

The runners are owned by the Come by Chance Stable of Edna Arrow, the 85-year-old mother of Woodbine trainer Jim Day, who bred both runners. They are offspring of Day's stallion Raj Waki, who also serves as Day's pony during the racing season.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Robert VanOverschot started out the 2003 racing season with particular goals for certain horses in his barn. While his plan for Illusive Force to run in the Queen's Plate and come back to Hastings for the British Columbia Derby didn't pan out, his sprint-only schedule for Bold 'n Keen has worked out perfectly.

Bold 'n Keen figures to be a solid favorite when he runs in Saturday's Hastings Sprint.

AUBURN, Wash. - The state's Thoroughbred industry showed surprising strength at Tuesday's Washington Thoroughbred Breeders' Association summer sale, which saw 160 yearlings change hands for an average of $16,183.

The worst number to emerge from the sale was that the average price was down 1.8 percent, and even that came as a pleasant surprise.

"Given our economic woes and what happened at most of the sales that came before us, I think the average price far exceeded expectations," said WTBA general manager Ralph Vacca. "The other numbers were even better."

DEL MAR, Calif. - She's Gottogetaway, the second longest shot in a field of eight California-bred 2-year-old fillies, caught a weary Dirty Diana in the final stride to score a massive upset in Wednesday's $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes at Del Mar.

She's Gottogetaway ($59.80) trailed by more than six lengths with a quarter-mile remaining but rallied on the inside to win by a neck. Ridden by Isaias Enriquez, She's Gottogetaway finished six furlongs in 1:11.62.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The carnival-like atmosphere of Saratoga may be lacking, but top-quality racing figures to be in high supply when Belmont Park's fall meet opens Friday.

Thirty-three days were not enough to pack in all the major races, so this year's meet has been expanded to 38 days, lasting through Oct. 26. First post is 1 p.m. daily, with the exception of closing weekend. General admission and general parking are free on Friday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is leaving his position as private trainer for the Maktoum family to open a public stable. McLaughlin has worked for the Maktoum family since the fall of 1993.

McLaughlin has trained primarily for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's Shadwell Stable. While spending five months of each year in Dubai, however, he has broken and trained horses for the other brothers in the family, including Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum's Gainsborough Farm and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's Darley Stud.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Candy Ride, the unbeaten winner of the Pacific Classic, returned to the racetrack for the first time on Wednesday for a gallop that was hardly routine.

"We couldn't keep him on the ground," trainer Ron McAnally said. "He's something else. There is a lot of energy stored up."

DEL MAR, Calif. - Crowned Dancer has not won in more than a year and finished last of nine in a division of the Oceanside Stakes on July 23, the opening day of the Del Mar meet.

With that form, he would seem misplaced in Friday's $75,000 El Cajon Stakes, a restricted race run at one mile for 3-year-olds.